Shipping to Italy

[KJT]

This is undoubtedly the wrong subforum, but I always get great answers here so I thought I'd try. Mods please feel free to move this if it needs to be.

I need to ship a package to a friend who's in a small town in Italy this summer - Pesaro - and from what I've heard their postal system is not the best. She said to have it delivered to her office address instead of her home because they won't deliver mail if you're not there to accept it... weird...

There's nothing of real value in the box, just food and other small things to remind about home. Do you guys have any suggestions to avoid customs issues or delays in getting it delivered?

Thank you!

 

[SpooPoker]

Read any rules about shipping to Italy on the USPS website, but a general rec is ship it only by Express Mail.

 

[wetnose]

There's a good reason why most ebay international sellers avoid shipping to Italy. If you have to ship it to her, then you'd have to go the DHL route to ensure receipt.

 

[pabloj]

Originally Posted by KJT

... She said to have it delivered to her office address instead of her home because they won't deliver mail if you're not there to accept it... weird...

...
.. Better than leaving the package there unattended, isn't it? Usual mail goes into a mailbox without problem of course.
They'll leave a note and she'll have to go to the post office next day to get the package.
Problem is that they tend to leave the note anyway, without actually checking if you're at home and that by next day they mean next day after 10 am, which is a problem if you work, and usually means that you'll have to go to the post office after two days to be able to get the package by say 8.30 am.
Forget about DHL or UPS, go the USPS way!

 

[YungLA]

Italy is very stritct on what you can send, i forgot but im sure you can look it up on google. Its pretty ridiculous though. Good luck on shipping there, hope you dont have any problems.

 

[westinghouse]

Write "$20 gift" on the customs form so the receiver won't have to pay taxes.

 

[KJT]

Thanks guys - package is on it's way to Italy. I appreciate the advice.

 

[dragon8]

Originally Posted by KJT

Thanks guys - package is on it's way to Italy. I appreciate the advice.

what method did you use and did it arrive?

 

[KJT]

Originally Posted by dragon8

what method did you use and did it arrive?

USPS, Priority Mail I think, but maybe it was Express. They said it'd be 6-10 days, and it hasn't arrived yet.

I used the $20 gift advice on the customs form as well.

I'll post when it arrives.

 

[KJT]

Still hasn't arrived.